Sydney Rodriguez is an instant success at River Dell/Westwood by Sean Farrell of The Record
Everyone wanted to watch the freshman.
Those around River Dell/Westwood hoped to see what they had heard. The lore of Sydney Rodriguez spread well before her first practice.
She was going to be fast, but already?
“I knew she was good,” coach Chris Armen said. “But I never thought she’d be this good.”
Good enough to break a decade-old school backstroke record on her first try. Fast enough to set another in the butterfly just days later. Rodriguez has been a freshman sensation, a scoring leader in her first season. And with every win from a middle lane, she’s lived up to the expectations that preceded her.
“There’s really no secret,” Rodriguez said, of her success. “You just have to work hard.”
Rodriguez grew up around the water.
She started competitive swimming at age 7 and started focusing more on it in middle school, after a broken ankle effectively ended her basketball career. Then there were the countless hours spent in the stands, watching her older sister Melanie swim for the co-op.
“I always wanted to be like her,” Rodriguez said.
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River Dell/Westwood has come to rely on Rodriguez. Though the program doesn’t have a winning record, the team has faced five ranked opponents and stayed competitive even after graduating a few top swimmers. Rodriguez stepped in right away with four wins in her debut – a close victory over Wayne Valley – and took first in both the butterfly and backstroke in each of the first five meets.
One of the most impressive parts of her game is how predictable it’s become. This season, her times have been remarkably consistent. And she’s become a team favorite with a friendly demeanor and a smile on he face.